Long waiting lists at music schools – wien.ORF.at

Again and again parents report that there is no room for their children at music schools in the City of Vienna – for example for popular instruments such as piano and guitar. Employees also complain: It is frustrating to have to turn away dozens of interested parties every year. For years the number of places to be allocated has remained the same, while the population in Vienna and interest in music lessons are growing.

The head of the city’s music schools, Swea Hieltscher, confirmed to Radio Wien that the demand had risen continuously in recent years. “That is basically very positive, but the demand cannot be met by the current range of music schools in the city alone,” said Hieltscher in a written statement. She refers to private institutions that would also receive funding from the city. These grants have increased more than fivefold since 2010, to 554,000 euros.

Offer will be continuously expanded

The music schools’ director explains that the city music schools are continuously working on expanding the range of offers “in accordance with the overall budgetary situation”. The music schools currently operate around 90 locations – in addition to 15 main locations, there are also compulsory schools on site. There are lessons in over 40 instrumental subjects, singing and dance – in the previous year for almost 12,000 children and young people. The main registration period is still open for the current school year.

The Vienna ÖVP criticized the music schools sharply in May of this year. According to a query from the city, only 27.75 percent of the registered children had a place in the 2019/2020 school year – in 2010/2011 it was 76 percent. The enormous decline is not only due to the increased demand, there are actually fewer places in music schools, the ÖVP criticized in a broadcast at the time and demanded significantly more places at music schools.

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